When I first started gardening, I wasn’t very good at labeling things as I planted them in the garden. Over the past 10 years or so, I’ve tried numerous products for labeling things in the edible garden. After much trial and error, I finally settled on a few products that work well and help keep me organized.
I discovered a few different types of wooden plant markers that work very well. Another great benefit is that they are made at a shop only abut 20 minutes from my house. When I ordered wholesale boxes of these labels and markers for my shop, I drove up and picked them up. They use birch wood from the northeast, another bonus. I love it when I can support a small business with my purchases, especially one that is so local! I use the small labels in my seedling trays and the medium and large labels in the garden.
Another thing that always frustrated me when it came to labeling plants was the fading. There’s nothing worse than checking a plant tag only to realize it was unreadable. After trying pencils, grease pencils, sharpies, and a few other products, I finally found these Garden Markers (also made for the local company I get my tags from).
These will last for a year in the garden, sometimes more. I find they last longest on the large plant tags. When I harvest my garlic, I can still easily read the varieties on the tags. I’m so happy to have found these. Which is why I decided to sell them over at Seeds & Sundries. These have become one of my most favorite garden tools in the past 5 years since I discovered them!

What garden tools have you discovered and fallen in love with recently?

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4 Comments to “Friday Favorite: Labeled Plants”

Susy, I am the worst person for labeling. I always have good intentions but never seem to do it. The garden markers are a great idea and I’ll certainly be checking them out. I have good intentions to use markers this year. :-) Oh, yeah, and keep better records. Another good intention that always starts out good but gets lost in the busy garden activities.

Thanks for always passing on the great gardening tips you find and have a great garden labeling day.

This isn’t a recent discovery, but one of my favorite garden tools is velcro tape. I found inexpensive rolls of narrow green tape designed for use in the garden and find it easier to use than twine or zip ties. It’s easy to adjust and gather back up at the end of the growing season; I have pieces that I’ve been able to reuse for years. It’s a favorite small gift to give to new gardeners.

I make my own labels with my laminator and popsicle sticks. Mostly because I already have the supplies and my kids love helping.

One thing I really am disciplined about is garden journaling. I always make maps and notes. Lots and lots of notes. As the season goes on it is many pages long. I add pictures of the garden also. I don’t have a fancy journal just notebook pages that go in my large household binder. Also includes menu plans from years ago to present, all Christmas gifts given, health records, and price lists, etc. I hope my kids enjoy looking through it someday.

those are good. simple but useful. I like that they are made out of wood- not a tragedy if they eventually get lost or left in the garden-compared to the plastic markers that come with a lot of seedlings….

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.